All it took a was a little Hurricane, but White House support is starting to unravel in Congress, as senators in control of the purse strings realize that Bush’s goals and their state’s post-Katrina needs are not compatible.

Comments directed at the White House from the Senate suggest that two of George Bush’s staunches supporters are less than happy with White House interference with Hurricane Relief efforts and are ready to play some serious political hard ball.

Concerned over White House efforsts to block a bi-partisan bill to provide Medicaid to adult survivors of the hurricane, Senate Finance Committe Chairman Charles Grassly (R, Iowa) had these challanging words for the President:

I would suggest that people at the White House need to know that the chances of our getting a reconciliation bill moving out of my committee are very difficult if we don’t get this behind us

Grassley’s comments brought audible gasps in the hearing room. Faced with an October 19th deadline, Grassley had previously pressed his committee to move the spending bill through his committee. If Grassley chooses not to let his portion of the spending bill out of committee, the entire budget effort is likely to collapse, Senate aides said.

Adding his comments to those of Grassley, was Trent Lott, (R-MS)

We can work with everybody, including the administration, OR we can work against them, but I’m prepared to go either way…. I’m going to look after our people first

Damn. I haven’t heard the word “mandate” from the White House in a while.

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